Public Health/Community Nutrition Practice Group

Student Members

Welcome Student Members! This page is for YOU! This is where you will find information about all the amazing benefits and resources that are available to you as a student member in the Public Health/Community Nutrition Practice Group (PHCNPG). We have created a brief video (see below) that highlights some of these benefits but please continue reading for more information. If you have any questions, feedback, or suggestions please email the Student Committee Chair.

Leadership

Join the Student Committee or any of the other committees! The Student Committee works on fun projects that serve as valuable benefits to our student members. Examples of past projects include creation of The Student Digest, PHCNPG Student Facebook Group, and The Mentor Program. Because we have students members all over most interaction takes place electronically. As students, school work is our first priority and you can devote as much time to the Student Committee as you wish! You can be a member or take a more active role and lead a sub-committee. Each membership year a new Student Committee Chair is selected to lead the Student Committee. They serve as a liaison between student members and the PHCNPG leadership. They hold a non-voting Executive Committee position.The application period for this year has closed and will open for next year in February 2017. You can contact the current Student Committee Chair at phcnpgstudents@gmail.com if you have any questions or are interested in joining the committee.

Every year at FNCE the PHCNPG hosts The Mother's Room for breastfeeding women attending the conference. Students are encouraged to volunteer at this event. It's a great way to network with other students. members of the PHCNPG, and Executive Committee members.

Search for members in a specific geographic region by using ourMember Directory. This can be helpful when you are searching for preceptors or other students to work on projects with.

Be sure to update your profile so that you are opted in for the Electronic Mailing List (EML) which allows you to send and receive messages to all members who are also opted in. It's a great resource if you have a question or a project that the practice group could help with. It can also be a great way to hear about job and volunteer opportunities. Also, be sure that you are opted in to receive E-blasts because this is our main form of communication and this is how you will hear about important updates and opportunities!

We are active on several social media sites including thePHCNPG Student Facebook Group, PHCNPG Facebook Page, andTwitter. The PHCNPG Student Facebook Group was created as an exclusive member benefit for YOU! It is a closed group and those wishing to join will have their membership verified. This group is a great place to network with other students, share job and volunteer opportunities, discuss interesting articles and research and much more! We also hold a monthly "Ask an RD" session where we have RDs available to answer any questions you may have.

AttendFNCE!The PHCNPG hosts a Networking Event and it's a time for all of us to come together and get a brief update about the practice group while networking and enjoying refreshments. More information will be sent out about this event via email as it gets closer to the dates of FNCE.

Mentoring

The PHCNPG Student Committee offers The Mentor Program! Are you a dietetics student looking for more guidance and advice from RDN’s with real-world experience in Pubic Health and Community settings? Are you an RDN, DTR, graduating senior, graduate student, or dietetic intern who could share your expertise and knowledge? Are you looking for new and exciting ways to boost your resume while building strong, lasting relationships with your peers? The road to becoming a DTR or RDN can be bumpy at times and it can help to have valuable insight from a mentor who has been down the same road before. Several mentors even offer shadowing opportunities so if possible we will place you with someone in the same geographic region. Please click hereto learn more about this exciting new program, and submit your application.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics also offers their eMentoring system. The system allows you to search by geographic location, years of experience, practice area, languages spoken and even types of mentoring. Don't miss out on these amazing opportunities that are included with your membership.

Wondering what students have to say about participating in The Mentor Progam?

"The application and matching was pretty straightforward, and I was matched with someone who had experience with research and was pursuing her PhD. We had an initial phone conversation that was like an informational interview while I was still working on my thesis. After I graduated, we talked again about the RD exam and getting started with job searching, and she looked over my resume. I'm still job searching so I haven't really had any further contact, but it is nice to have someone who I feel like I could reach out to if questions come up. Thanks for coordinating the program!"

As a student member of the PHCNPG you not only have access to The Digest but also The Student Digest, which is a newsletter created by our Student Committee catered to our student members. The newsletter contains articles and information that is relevant to you as a student and may include: hot topics in public health, policy corner, interviews with RD's, interns, and DI directors, unique opportunities and resources, spotlights of internships and graduate programs and much more! We will also include seasonally appropriate articles that relate to studying for finals and the RD exam, internship application tips, interview tips, and job opportunities.

If you have a resource that you have found to be helpful please email it to us at phcnpgstudents@gmail.com and we will add it to the list.

We would like to thank you for joining the Public Health/Community Nutrition Practice Group. Our goal is to provide students with programs and resources that will be valuable to them on their journey to becoming a DTR or RDN. We invite you to take advantage of all that we have to offer YOU and to play an active role in your membership. Please email the Student Committee Chair with any inquiries. We look forward to having a great year with you!